Health anxiety

[Mvshrln]

Hi all,

I've seen a couple of health anxiety threads on here but they're all quite old/inactive and wondered if there were any more recent ones, or if anyone fancied discussing it via this new thread? It's helpful when someone else knows how you feel.

I really struggle with HA, the thoughts bounce around my head until I fixate on one and worry about it relentlessly. I can see why the anxiety has appeared (friends parent passed away, the covid-19 situation has terrified me, I'm getting older/have life events happening like buying a house, and I also work within the hospice sector). It's helpful to know why but it doesn't help with how to deal with it! I'm currently taking venlafaxine and CBT counselling via videocall but the worry takes up huge chunks of my day.

Nightmare! How is everyone else?

I can so understand about worrying about other things. When I am shopping I am convinced I am going to walk out without paying I also am convinced I am going to loose my phone or my keys and I am alway reassuring myself they are there x

I all, sorry not been around much. Had a few really good days without much worry but now it’s back with a vengeance. Probably as it’s the weekend and no rushing around so more time to think/dwell!

Everyday seems to bring more aches and pains and thus more anxiety it’s something bad. Pain in a few different joints now with the constant feeling I need to click and crack them, and twinges in upper back too. No idea if I’m just being over sensitive to my body or if there’s a real issue. Not fun.

Also another one to worry excessively about other things, like things that have happened while driving, or mulling over conversations with friends and worrying you’ve said something that could be misconstrued. Wish I could be one of those people who just deal with the hear and now and don’t think about the what ifs!

@anotherdoghere sometimes they can leave a skin tag when they shrink yes, sort of like a wrinkle of skin.

I could have written your post about shopping, I worry that someone will think I’m trying to steal something or like you say walking out without paying.

Like @Lolly12 I also worry about driving things a lot, if I pass a cyclist I’m always convinced I’ve got too close or that I’ve hit something etc. I also worry about conversations with mums at the school etc and what if I’ve offended them, I’m the same with teachers and people like that - I always worry that I’m not coming across in the right way if that makes sense. It’s nice to not feel alone!

My goodness me I also think I am going to hit someone on a bike as well. I always look in my mirror when I pass them to check they are okay. I am so glad I have found the forum it is so hard for people who don't suffer HA to understand x

Hi everyone, sorry I’ve been quiet the past couple of days, husbands been really worried about his prostate so I’ve been sorting out a private ultrasound for him whilst still worrying about the baby so it’s been non stop!
Gosh, I completely relate to what you’re saying about worrying about other things as well as health. I have huge anxiety about work and when I’m on annual leave I worry the whole time, god knows what I’ll be like on mat leave!
I had a good CBT session on Friday and I’m really starting to recognise my behaviour patterns and how I react to triggers so I’m feeling hopeful it will really help me. I’ve also managed not to check my breasts for a few days which is a huge achievement for me so I’m hoping I can keep it up until the new year.
Looking at previous posts, I can relate to the lumpy breasted ladies, mine are really lumpy, right more than left so I share your anxiety over that xx

@anotherdoghere that’s exactly what I do, I go past them with lots of space but then think ‘oh no did I hit them’ even though I know I didn’t and I’m then looking back in my mirror to check they are ok! How strange, just goes to show how common our anxieties are!

@Lib3rtine sorry you are having a stressful few days but brilliant news that you think your CBT will help you. Also great that you’ve stayed away from poking and prodding. I hope the scan for your husband puts his mind at rest! x

@Lib3rtine well done for not checking the breasts!! Trust me I know how much will power this takes, I’m on day 2 f not checking, I’ve had moments where I have a gush of anxiety and am Eddie rate for reassurance but I am trying so hard not to give in, they have also been very sore from the previous prodding! So glad the CBT is going well for you! I can’t wait to stay in Han feel desperate for some sort of help.

And to all the other recent posts yep I’m with you! I V rethink conversations a lot, I get paranoid when I’m not at work because I wonder what they are said about me, I’m due to go to a drive in cinema on Monday it will just be me and my son and I’m already working about the journey there. What if something bad happens, I even went as far as imagining what they would be saying about it on the news ‘mother and son in way for joyful Christmas movie...’ how crazy is that?!

What I would give for some peace of mind! X

Hi everyone. Ive finally finished my isolation for covid. I've got pains in my ribs when I breathe in which are freaking me out and worrying me incase its complications of covid. Although I am aware it could also be muscular. Would I be unreasonable to ring 111 to get some advice on this? I know they'll probably send me to hospital. They did during my isolation but my hospital had so many covid cases their were 5 ambulances queuing outside for over an hour and I was told after 2 hours that I probably wouldn't get in.

@AstridAv hey there, I have been suffering with pain in my ribs for the last few weeks, no covid as far as I’m aware.

Where about in the ribs is the pain? Mine is on the edge of the sternum and under my left breast. When I went to the gp they said if you press on it and it’s tender that’s a good sign that it’s muscular and not related to anything else. It also hurts when I breath in and when I press on them. My bet is that it’s muscular, maybe some mild inflammation in the cartilage. Does it feel tender to press?

Hiya.. its at the bottom of my ribs and when I breathe in the pain goes all the way up to my shoulder like a stabbing pain. Not tender to the touch.
I'm sorry you're in pain too.

@MrsWhites thank you! He feels much better now it’s booked so it’s money well spent! X

@Goolies that’s really good that you’ve done two days, we need to keep going with it. It’s so hard when you feel that rush of anxiety and need reassurance, I’ve had a couple of wobbles but we can do it!
It’s a real eye opener that we all have similar worries about other stuff as well, I’d also love peace of mind so hoping CBT helps me get that x

Hi all! Glad to hear lots of you have restrained prodding and poking! Hope everyone’s doing ok! I haven’t been too bad this weekend (I have been poking at myself) but less anxious! Like everyone else I dwell over conversations too, actually when I initially spoke to the therapist on the phone I had bad anxiety after I think from so willingly telling a real life person all my worries I keep in my head

@tmh88 I totally relate to that, sometimes I’ve even posted about something on here I feel like I have almost felt like I’ve tempted fate by talking about it.

I’m not feeling too bad this weekend, although I had to flash my husband this morning to reassure me that my boobs being slightly different is ok 😂

Hi everyone. How are you all? My therapist suggested I try and stay away from anything online but I’m having a terrible weekend so thought I’d check in. I fainted during a panic attack yesterday and woke up today with a bloodshot and bruised eye and real pain in the right side of my face and right arm. It could be the way I’ve fallen but I can’t get a stroke out of my mind because all of the pain is one sided. Can you have a stroke and not know it? I feel silly phoning for advice but I can’t get out of my bed for fear. I hope everyone is okay, especially given the terrible announcements yesterday. I hoped being round my family for a few days might take my mind off things, I’ve definitely seen my anxiety worsen this year when there’s nothing to do but stay home and fixate!!

@MrsWhites the tempted fate feeling is awful! I always have that it makes the anxiety a million times worse!

Hi all

@lolly12 that definitely sounds like "rumination" which is a part of health anxiety. It's horrid and you get caught in a loop because your brain thinks "ah if I think about this then eventually I'll come to a solution!" So it makes us feel like we are problem solving but we aren't cos there either isn't a definitive answer or potentially not even a problem to solve...

@ashmarie my therapist said the same thing about staying offline for a bit and it definitely worked with keeping off of health forums. However I still like to touch base on here once in a while as it's a wonderful support network!

I have my MRI results tomorrow :( also my period is late - I usually have a 28-31 day cycle but it's now day 34 and it hasn't appeared. So that's stressed me out and I am absolutely not pregnant. I've always suffered on and off with anaemia since I was a really young kid but now I'm worried I've got it for 'sinister' reasons. Bleurgh.

Hope everyone had an okay weekend. I'm in tier 4 now so that's fun...!!

@Mvshrln best wishes for your results tomorrow! Hope it brings you some peace if it helps I had a panic a couple of months ago with a missed period.. booked the docs after 2 weeks and low and behold came on the day of my appointment! Typical

Hi ladies, so my not checking didn’t last very long, had a poke about just now and I’m hoping someone can reassure me a bit. On my left breast, the lumpier one I can feel what I would describe as a flat pebble, in the I can feel the edge of it on one side. Are these ducts or a lump? X

Hi @Goolies where abouts on the breast? I have a breast cyst which feels a bit pebble like x

It’s just above the areola, feels flat but then feel an edge to it if that makes sense

@Mvshrln I hope you feel better once you’ve got your results and your mind will be at rest once you know you’ve nothing to worry about. Your late period could be due to worrying about your results maybe xx

@Goolies I have the exact same thing, I think I’ve told you before, it’s just up from the outer edge of the areola and just a lumpier bit of tissue which is only about half a cm so tiny. Does that sound similar? Xx

Yes I think so lib3rtine, so frustrating I was doing so well then ended up alone in bed as DH was wrapping my presents and that’s it, here we go again!!

@Goolies honestly it’s fine then, I think there are ducts etc round there or it’s just a tiny bumpy bit but nothing to worry about. Night time is the absolute worst time for me if I’m alone in bed but I’m really trying to stop myself and do feel more in control by resisting. I hope you feel a bit better now and get a good nights sleep x

Thanks so much lib3rtine. I’m trying to think logically Ave remind myself I was worried about an armpit lump just over a week ago. Think I need to start watching something as soon as I get into bed to avoid my brain going crazy!! Thanks again really glad to hear you’re doing better x

@Goolies you’re welcome. I know exactly what you mean, I think I’m only doing ok at the minute as I’m worrying about the baby and my husband, once they’re ok, I’ll fixate on something to do with me. My breasts cause me huge anxiety so I completely understand how you feel. I have lumpy bits that have always been like that but when I’m feeling particularly anxious I fixate on it and start to doubt myself. Hope you had a good nights sleep, I’m at the hospital this morning for another scan so up early! x